Liming and phosphorus fertilization increase cassava root yield without affecting its cooking time

Abstract

AbstractAcidity and low P availability in tropical soils constrain cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) yield. Liming increases soil Ca and P availability, but Ca can increase the storage root cooking time, and its effects vary with soil P availability. The effects of liming and P fertilization on cassava yield and their relationship with storage root cooking need to be better understood. A 2‐yr field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of liming at 0, 1.5, 3.1, and 4.8 Mg ha−1 with 0 or 70 kg P ha−1 on plant nutritional status and growth, yield, and cooking of fresh storage roots of the cassava cultivar IAC 576‐70. Foliar concentrations were increased for N, P, and Mg and reduced for Mn and Zn with lime application. Maximum cassava fresh storage root yield (26.4 Mg ha−1) was obtained with an optimal lime rate of 3.0 Mg ha−1 and a base saturation of 50%. Liming promoted a 6.5% increase (1.7 min) in the cooking time of storage roots. Application of P fertilizer increased shoot biomass in acidic soil and the diameter and mean weight of the storage roots in the amended soil. Phosphorus fertilization increased the yield (22% or 4.7 Mg ha−1) and P concentration of the storage roots without changing their P/Ca ratio or cooking time. Liming and P fertilization can be managed to improve cassava storage root yield without affecting storage root cooking.